Psalms 39

1 For the end, a Song of David, to Idithun. I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I set a guard on my mouth, while the sinner stood in my presence.

Unto the end. For Jeduthun himself. A Canticle of David. I said, “I will keep to my ways, so that I will not offend with my tongue.” I posted a guard at my mouth, when a sinner took up a position against me.

2 I was dumb, and humbled myself, and kept silence from good [words]; and my grief was renewed.

I was silenced and humbled, and I was quiet before good things, and my sorrow was renewed.

3 My heart grew hot within me, and a fire would kindle in my (meditation) I spoke with my tongue,

My heart grew hot within me, and, during my (meditation) a fire would flare up.

4 O Lord, make me to know mine end, and the number of my days, what it is; that I may know what I lack.

I spoke with my tongue, “O Lord, make me know my end, and what the number of my days will be, so that I may know what is lacking to me.”

5 Behold, you have made my days old; and my existence [is] as nothing before you: nay, every man living [is] altogether vanity. (Pause)

Behold, you have made my days measurable, and, before you, my substance is as nothing. Yet truly, all things are vanity: every living man.

6 Surely man walks in a shadow; nay, he is disquieted in vain: he lays up treasures, and knows not for whom he shall gather them.

So then, truly man passes by like an image; even so, he is disquieted in vain. He stores up, and he knows not for whom he will gather these things.

7 And now what [is] my expectation? [is it] not the Lord? and my ground [of hope] is with you. (Pause)

And now, what is it that awaits me? Is it not the Lord? And my substance is with you.

8 Deliver me from all my transgressions: you have made me a reproach to the foolish.

Rescue me from all my iniquities. You have handed me over as a reproach to the foolish.

9 I was dumb, and opened not my mouth; for you are he that made me.

I was silenced, and I did not open my mouth, because it was you who acted.

10 Remove your scourges from me: I have fainted by reason of the strength of your hand.

Remove your scourges from me.

11 You chasten man with rebukes for iniquity, and you make his life to consume away like a spider's web; nay, every man is disquieted in vain. (Pause)

I fall short at corrections from the strength of your hand. For you have chastised man for iniquity. And you have made his soul shrink away like a spider. Nevertheless, it is in vain that any man be disquieted.

12 O Lord, listen to my prayer and my supplication: attend to my tears: be not silent, for I am a sojourner in the land, and a stranger, as all my fathers [were].

O Lord, heed my prayer and my supplication. Pay attention to my tears. Do not be silent. For I am a newcomer with you, and a sojourner, just as all my fathers were.

13 Spare me, that I may be refreshed, before I depart, and be no more.

Forgive me, so that I may be refreshed, before I will go forth and be no more.